Hydrostatic tail fuse



June 17 1958 H. H. DERINGER HYDRSTATIC TAIL FUSE Filed July 7, 1941 INVENTOR T ORNEY I ate-nt Qice 2,838,998 HYDRosTATIC TAIL FUSE Harry H. Deringer, United States Navy Application `luly 7, 1941, Serial No. 401,325

12 claims. (cl. 1oz- 7) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to a hydrostatic tail fuse for bombs, and has for an object to provide a tail fuse for aircraft depth bombs or charges, whereby the bomb may be set to explode at a predeterminable depth in the water.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fuse for an aircraft depth bomb which will explode the bomb only at a predeterminable depth and will refrain fromY exploding the bomb upon contact of the bomb with the surface of the water, and may be applied to depth bombs having a nose fuse for operation on impact withthe surface of vessels or objects, which nose fuse, however, will not explode the bomb on impact with water.

With a bomb that is provided with'such nose fuse and with the tail fuse of this invention, it is possible for Van aircraft to aim the bomb at a vessel on water so that should the bomb miss the vessel and strike the water nearby, it will sink to a predeterminable depth before exploding so as to cause the greatest possible damage to the target.

A further object of this invention is to provide a delayed action arming feature for an aircraft bomb, which fuse will not be armed until after the bomb has traveled some distance down from the aircraft and which will not explode the bomb should it strike the Water, but instead will explode the bomb after the bomb has sunk to a predeterminable depth in the water.. Y

A further object of this invention is to provide a depth bomb fuse with counter weights for counteracting the dynamic force set up by the impact of the bomb with the surface of the water, preventing the actuation of the fuse, which counter weights, however, will not interfere with the actuation of the fuse through hydrostatic pressure after the bomb has sunk to the predeterminable depth. Y

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a bellows and trigger tripping means for actuating the firing pin under a predeterminable hydrostatic pressure.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an easily adjustable means for predetermining the depth at which the fuse of this invention will operate to set .off

the bomb to which it is attached.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through the hydrostatic tail fuse of this invention and a phantom view of the tail of a bomb to which it is attached;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views, somewhat enlarged, taken substantially along the lines 2 2 and 3--3 respectively of Fig. l; and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion Patented June 17, 19.58

bomb mayV preferably also be provided with a nose fuse for impact with anyV hard surface, such asthe deck of a vessel or dock, which nose fuse will be'of sucha char- .A Y acter that it will not be actuated by impact with the surk face of the water should the bomb miss its target;` In

such case it is desirable that the bomb sink to a prede' little, if any damagewould be inflected on lthe target.

The fuse 10 consists of a housing 13 comprisingl asV many sections as may be necessary.V At thetail end gof the fuse 10 there is provided a propeller 14, secured ,as

by.a cottor pin 15, through its hub 16,.to a shaft 17,

which shaft, in turn, is xed to the sun gear 18 .of `a planetary gear system 20 for rotating a shaft k21 having a threaded end 22 extending into the threaded opening 23 of a cap 24. As the bomb is released from the carrier the yarming wire Z5 is Vwithdrawn fromV aperture 26 extending through the housing 13 and the shaft 17,.thus releasing shaft 17 for rotation by the Vpropeller unde pressure of the atmosphere as it falls. u

The cap 24 has a skirt 27A extending over `a safety head 2S which is threaded on a longitudinally movable shaft 30, the safety head 28 being provided with a's1eeve31 K'which extends throughthe' central aperture ,'32 irl-'the depth adjusting wheel k33. A'pin 34 extendingV from safety head 28 into a slot 35 in skirt 27 insures that rotation of the threaded end 22 of shaft 21 willwithdraw l cap 24 so that the skirt 27 will releaseballs 36 therebeneath, allowing such balls 36 to drop out and escape from the fuse housing through openings 37 in theside thereof. The wheel 33 is provided with'a hub 3S extending `through and journaled in a bulkhead 40 in the housing V13, and this hubY 38 is internally threaded as atv 41.

Threaded into this hub 38 is a capped nut 42`having its cap 43 splined as at 44 on the shaft 30. A depth spring 45 about the shaft 30 has one end based against the inside of the cap 43, while the other end is adapted lto be contacted by the safety cap sleeve 31 afterV the balls 26 have been released. Obviously, rotation of the wheel 33 by means of a vtool inserted in any one of the peripheral pockets 46 through a slot 47 in the housing"13 Will vary ythe tension exerted by'depth spring y45 against Y the'V movement of shaft 30.

After the depth adjusting wheel 33 has beenrotated the desired'amount, it may be locked against movement by means of a stud 48 inserted through a threaded opening'50 Y into one of the peripheral pockets 46.V k

The end of the shaft 30 is provided with a rectangular enlargement 51 provided on oppositesides with a'plurality of rack teeth 52. This enlargement 51 extends between a pair of brackets 53 supported on a 'base 54vwhic'h is Asecured to the shoulder 5.5 of the housing 13.l Pivofted between brackets 53 on pins 56V are a pair of counter of the ring mechanism of Fig. l showing the safety' pin in the assembled position.

There is shown at 10 the hydrostatic fuse of. this invention as applied to the tail 11 of an aircraft depth bomb, the tail fuse of the bomb being shown at 12; The Y y'enlargement 51.

movement upwardly about the pins 56 in order to allowV Y v weights 5'7 having teeth 58 in mesh with theA rackrteeth 52 of shaft enlargement S1. These weights 57'ar'e so placed on their pivot pins 56 that when the bomb `is infalling position their center of gravity is displaced about.-

45 degrees from the vertical on each side ofthe shaft However, they are freeforlpivotal 2,sss,99s

v shaft enlargement 51 and attached parts in the left hand -and attached parts inthe left hand direction of Fig. 1,

Vand simultaneously it would tend to move the counter weights 57'in this same direction. "Al`he tendency of the counter weights to move thus counterbalances the tendfencyrof the shaft enlargement 51 and attached parts to move, and as a result the enlargement 51 and attached parts do`not move under the'shock of the bomb strikfing 'the surface of the water.

Attached Vto the shaft enlargement 51 as by a threaded 'bore 60 is the stem 61 of a cup l62 terminating in a flange 63 movable within a cylinder 64. Attached to this flange n63 is a bellows or diaphragm 65 whose other end lis attached to the base 54 at a rim 66, the base 54'being provided with a plurality of holes 67 extendingV from within the rim 66 therethrough to the chamber 68, and thus to apertures 70 through the housing 13. The stem 61 slidably extends through a central aperture 71 in the base 54. vAls the bomb 11 sinks into the water, water enters through apertures 70, chamber 68, apertures 67 and between the cup and the diaphragm 65, the flange 63 exerting a downward force thereon, causing it to move in the left hand direction of Fig. l. inasmuch as this force is exerted equally in all directions onthe counter weights 57 and hence does not affect them, the counter weights 5.7 may move in the opposite direction, permitting the stem 61 to draw the shaft 30 and safety cap 28 down against depth controlling spring 45.

Secured to the inside of cup 62 is a sleeve 72 which is slidable over the outside of a cylinder 73. Within this cylinder 73 there is slidablyY located the detonator carrier'74 having a trigger comprising a circumferential recess 75 into which extends a plurality of lock balls 76, these lock balls being held in position by the sleeve 72. Asthe sleeveis moved to the left by hydrostatic pressure against cup 62, the shoulder 77 of sleeve 72 passes to the left of lock balls 76,` permitting them to pop out from the recess 75 of the detonator carrier 74, for as the cup 62 moves to the left itcompresses a firing spring 78 having one end based against the end of the detonator carrier and its other end based against the inside of the cup 62, a spring guide 80 serving to hold the spring 78 in proper position.

The 'release of theV lock balls 76 from Vthe recess 75 permits the firing spring 78 to move the detonator carrier 74 violently against the ring pin 81 mounted at the end of cylinder 73. The firing pin 81 sets off the detonator charge 82 within detonator carrier 74 and this explosion passes through an explosive train comprising the now aligned leadins or explosive pellets 83 in detonator carrier'74 and leadins or explosive pellets 84 in cylinder 73 to the booster charge 85, which fractures cap 86 to pass the shock tothe explosive within the bomb and Vset it off. Before the fuse is secured to the tail 11 of the bomb by means of the fuse threads 37, ais'afe'ty pin 88 is held in position by cotter pin 93 through alignedr openings 90 in the fuse housing, opening 91 in the Veylinder'73 and opening 92 in the detonator carrier 74; i i

`In operation, safety pin 88 is removed when the fuse 10is` about to be attached to the bomb, while the arming wire is inserted through aligned apertures 26 through the housing `13 and shaft 17, preventing propeller 14 from rotating." When the bomb is dropped the arming wire 25'is withdrawn as the bomb is released. As soon as the bomb hasffallen a sucient distance to exert an preciable pressure on the propellerllvfi, it rotates, rotating sha'ft17, and through the', planetary gear'system causes the threaded end 22 or" shaft 21 to withdraw the skirt 27 frbmab'out lo'ck` balls 36, releasing them therefrom. As

i already set forth, the safety head 28 and its sleeve 31 are attached to shaft 30, enlargement 51, stem 61, and cup 62. When the bomb strikes the water momentum tends to move all these attached parts in a downward direction. Momentum also tends to move the counter weights 57 about their pivoted pins 56 in this same downward direction, but inasmuch as the counter weights 57 are so geared to the enlargement 51 that they must move in the opposite direction if the enlargement 51 and its attached parts is to move at all, no movement can take place under the shock of the bomb striking the water. However, as the bomb sinks into the water, hydrostatic pressure entering through the apertures 70, chamber 68, and apertures'i move the eu'p 62 downwardly, while the counter weights S7 not being affected by the hydrostatic pressure move about their pivots to permit such movement of the cup 62. The hydrostatic pressure is resisted by the sleeve 31 contacting the depth control spring 45, the tension of this depth control spring 45 having been previously adjusted by rotation of wheel 33 and cap nut 43, so that the shoulder 77 of sleeve 72 will not pass beneath trigger balls 76 until the predetermined depth is reached. When such occurs the firing spring 7S, having been compressed by the movement of the cup 62, moves the detonator carrier 74 violently against the firing pin 71, setting off the detonator charge and through the booster charge S5 operates the bomb explosive to explode the bomb.

Other modifications and changes in the number and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the nature of this invention, within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A hydrostatic fuse for a bomb adapted to be released from an aircraft, comprising a casing having a detonator charge arranged therein, a percussion device disposed within said casing and adapted to fire said detonator charge, means for releasably maintaining said percussion device in an unarmed position,V a releasably locked shaft rotatably secured to said casing and having an air impeller secured thereto adapted to rotate the shaft during the travel of the bomb through the air, means including an arming wire for releasing said shaft for rotation as the bomb fallsn away from the aircraft, a second rotatable shaft disposed within said casing, means including a plurality of gears for causingsaid second rotatable shaft to be operated by the first named shaft at a reduced speed with respect to the first named shaft, means controlled by said second shaft for releasing said percussion device for operation, and means responsive to the pressure ot' the water within which the bomb is dropped for causing the detonator charge to be fired by said percussion device when the bomb has reached a predetermined depth of submergence therein. v v

2. A hydrostatic fuse for a bomb adapted to be released from an aircraft in flight comprising a casing having anexplosive charge arranged `therein, a percussion device disposed within saidfrcasing and adapted to re said explosive charge, means for releasably maintarr ing said percussion device in an unarmed position, a rc- -leasably locked shaft rotatably secured to said casing and having an air impeller secured thereto adapted to rotule the shaft during 'the travel of the bomb through the air, means for releasing said shaft for rotation as the bomb falls awayV from the aircraft, a second rotatable shaft disposed Withinl'said casing, a speed reducing device for causing said secondV rotatable shaft to be operated by `the first named shaft at a reduced speed with respect thereto,

y means controlled by said 'second shaft for releasing said percussion device for' operation, means secured to the cas- El I K ing and responsive tothe pressure of the Water within which the bomb is dropped for causing the explosive means responsive to the pressure of the air after the bomb has been released from the aircraft for causing said shaft to rotate, a speed reducing device connected to said shaft and arranged within the casing, a second shaft connected to said speed reducingV device and controlled thereby, a slideable member in threaded engagement with said second shaft adapted to be moved to a release position when said second shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, a normally locked rod slideably arranged Within the casing and adapted to be released by said slideable member as the slideable member moves into said release position, means responsive to the pressure of the Water Within which the bomb has been dropped for urging said slideable rod to a predetermined firing position, a normally locked percussion device releasably secured to said casing, means including a resilient member for exerting pressure on said percussion device variably in accordance with the degree of movement of said slideable rod, and means for releasing said percussion device when said slideable rod has moved through a predetermined distancey Vwith respect' to said percussion device.

4. In a device of ythe character disclosed for firing a bomb adapted to be released from an aircraft in flight, the combination of a casing having an explosive charge therein, a pair of leadins for said explosive charge, a moveable detonating device within said casing and having a percussion cap secured thereto, a detonator carrier having a pair of complementary leadins operatively conforrreleasing theslideable rod when -the impeller has made'a predetermined number of revolution'sgan explosive charge Within the casing, a detonating device adapted for moving with slideable rod to a predeterminedring position, a resilient device operatively connected to said,4

slideable rod and adapted to-store venergy variably in accordance .with the degree of movement of the slideable Yrod fromsaid initial position, and means for ringsaid detonating 'device when the slideable rod has been moved to s aid predetermined firing position. n

6. A device .of the character disclosedfor tiring a bomb adaptedtto be.V released from an aircraft in flight comprising a casing', a slideable rod arranged within VsaidY casing Vand having means operatively connected thereto for Aactuating the rod variably inaccordance with the pressure of the Water Within which the bomb is dropped, meansv for preventing rotativemovement of said'slideable rod,l means ncludinga cylindrical memberV arranged about oneend of said slideable rod and movable axially with respect thereto for releasably locking the rod ink an initial position, vmeans for preventing angular movement of said Vcylindricalrnember with respect to the rod, means including a shaft rotatably arranged Within said casing in threaded engagement with said cylindrical nected to said detonating device and adapted to beV moved into abutting relation withrrespect to saidV tirst named leadins as the detonating device is red, a ixed firing pin arranged Within the path of travel of the detonating device and adapted to explode said percussion cap, means abutting said detonating device for yieldably urging said detonating device and percussion cap'toward said tiring pin, means within the casing for releasably locking said detonating device at a predetermined distance from said firing pin, means including a metallicv bellows in communication with the surrounding water and controlled by the pressure of the water within which the bomb is dropped for releasing said detonating device, said yieldable means being operatively connected to said bellows for resisting movement thereof by said pressure, a second yieldable means, meanssettable at will for varying the tension of said second yieldable means and thereby controlling the degree'of hydrostatic pressure required to release said detonating device, means including a plurality of balls for releasably locking said detonating releasing device in a safe po-sition, and means including animpeller operated reduction gear connected to said last named locking means and controlled byrnovement of the air with respect to the bomb during the downward iiight of the bomb from the aircraft for relea's* ing said last named locking means. i

5. A hydrostatic device for a bomb adapted to be released frein an aircraft in flight comprising a casing, a

rod siideably disposed Within said casing, means for re leasably locking said siideable rod in an initial position, a pair of rotatable shafts arranged within the casing in alinement with said slideable rod, an impeller operatively connected to one ofthe shafts adapted to rotate the shaft by pressure of the air during the downward travel ofthe bomb from the aircraft, a speed reduction device intermediate said shafts and operatively connected thereto,

'means adapted to be operated by the other of said shafts member for causing the`cylindrical Amember to move axiallyv along said slideable'member to a release position as the shaft rotates, a speed reducing device` adapted to `rotate'said shaft, means including an air-impeller ar- 'Uranged exteriorally of the casing and operatively connected to said speed reducing device for causing thecylindrical member to be movedk to said release position by said first named shaftV when the impeller has made a predetermined number of revolutions, an explosive charge arranged within the casing, Idetonatin-gmeans adapted to fire said explosive charge, and means V:controlled by Vsaid, slideable rod for firing said detonating means vwhen the lslideable `rodha's been moved to a predetermined Vposition by s aid rod actuating means.

7i/A device of the character disclosed for firing* a submarine bomb adapted to be released*k from an aircraft in Hight comprising acasing having an explosive charge therein, .means for attachingtheV casingfto said bomb,

a yshaft rotatably secured `to said casing ,and having a wind Vdriven impellersecured thereto, a second shaft rotatably secured Within the casing in axial alinement with the first named shaft, a speed reducing deviceoperatively connected to said first named shaft and adapted to rotate said second shaft ata fractional rate of rotation of said impeller, a slideable member arranged within the casing and havingan initial position and a n'ng position, means for releasably locking said slideable member inf-said initial position, means controlled by said Vsecondshaftfor releasing said locking means when said` impeller hasV made a predetermined number of revolutions, means including a plurality of inertia membersV pivotally `ar ranged within the casing and operatively connected to said slideable member for preventing substantial move- Ament of said slideable member as the bomb strikes the vwater, means ,responsive tothe pressure of the water Within which vthe bomb is dropped for actuating the slideable member to said ring position, Va percussion device adapted to tire said explosive charg efand means controlled by said slideablememberfor ring .said perjcussio-n deviceas the slideablemember moves to. said ring position.A t t "V8.1Ajdevice of the characterdisclosed for vtiring-'a submarine bomb Aadapted to bereleased from an aircraft Yin flight comprising a casing having an explosive charge ftherein,l means for. attaching the casing to said bomb,

aprtrotatableshaft.extending from'said casing and having YaV wind driven impeller secured thereto, a second rototablet shaft Within the casing. and in axial alnement with the rst namedV shaft, a speed reducing device operatively connected to said first named rotatable shaft adapted to rotate said second shaft at a frationallate of Vrotation of said impeller, a slideable member arranged within the casing in axial alinement with the second shaft and having an initial position and a ring position, means for releasably locking,V said slideable member in said initial position, means controlled by said second rotatable shaft for releasing said locking means whensaid impeller has made a predetermined number of revolutions, a plurality of rack teeth arranged on said slideable member, a pair of inertia members pivotally arranged within the casing and having complementary toothed portions adapted to be meshed with said rack teeth, means for pivotally supporting said inertia members on opposite sides of said slideable member with the toothed portions in engagement with said rack teeth whereby substantial movement of the slideable member is prevented as the bomb strikes the Water, means responsive to the pressure of the water within which the Vbomb is dropped for actuating the slideable member to said tiring position, a percussion device controlled by said slideable member and adapted to fire said explosive charge, and means for tiring said percussion device as the slideable member moves to said tiring position.

9. A hydrostatic fuse for a bomb adapted to Vbe re-` leased from an aircraft in flight comprising a casing having an explosive charge arranged therein, a detonating device disposed within said casing and having a percussion cap secured thereto adapted` to tire said explosive char-ge, a xed firing pin adapted to explode said percussion cap, means for yieldably urging said detonating device and percussion cap toward said ring pin, means for releasably locking said detonating device at a predetermined distance from said firing pin, meansincluding a slideable member in axial alinement with Ysaid ring pin for releasing said locking means, a pair of balanced segmented inertia members pivotally secured to said casing and operatively connected torsaid slideable member on opposite sides thereof for preventing substantial movement of the slideable member as the bomb strikes the Water, a chamber within which said inertia members are arranged,` said chamber havingf a plurality ofY apertures adapted Ato admit the ow of -water Within the chamber thereby to reduce the effective weight of said inertiaV members by the Weight of the Water displaced thereby, and means controlled by the pressure of the Water within said chamber for causing said detonating device to be released when the effective Weight of the inertia members has been reduced.

10, A hydrostatic fuse for a bomb adapted to be released from an aircraft in Hight comprising a casing having an explosixe charge arranged therein, an explosirve train mounted adjacent to and in communication with said explosive charge, a moveable detonatingdevice disposed within saidcasing and having a percussion cap sccured thereto and adapted to be brought into operative relation with respect to said explosive train as the percussion cap is tired thereby to detonate said explosive charge, a fixed firing pin disposed within the casing and adapted to tire said percussion cap, means including a plurality of balls for releasably locking said detonating device in an initial position at a predetermined distance from said firing pin, means including a slideable member engaging said balls for releasably retaining said locking means, said slideable member4 having an initialV armed position and a tiring position, means engaging the slideable member for yieldably, urging said detonating device and percussion cap toward saidjring pin when the slideable member is in said armed position and for increasing'the degree of urge .of the VVdetonating device and percussion cap toward ,the firing pin progressively as the slideable member moves into said tiring position, means including a hydrostat device controlled by the pressure of the Water within which the bomb is dropped for moving the` slideable member to said 'ring position, means connected to said hydrostat device for varying the resistance thereof to actuation by said vwater pressure, said ball means being initially retainedY by said slideable member and releasable thereby for causing the detonating device to be released from said initial position as the slideable member moves into said tiring position thereby to ignite said explo-sive train and fire said charge.

1l. A hydrostatic fuse fora marine bomb adapted to be released from an aircraft, comprising a casing having a charge therein, initially ineffective percussion detonating means mounted Within said casing for firing the bomb, means Vincluding a bellows in communication with the surrounding Water? and including a member moveable thereby into engagement with said percussion detonating means to fire the bomb when the bomb reaches a predetermined depth of submergence, means including a plurality of balls in engagement with the moveable member for releasably locking said moveable member prior to launching the bomb from the aircraft, air impeller means including a reduction gearing initially retaining said locking means and rotatable during the travel of the bomb through the air to release said locking means before the bomb strikes the surface of the water, and inertia responsive meansV connected to said moveable member for preventing said movement of the moveable member in response to the impact of the bomb with the surface of the Water thereby to prevent premature tiring of the bomb.

l2. A hydrostatic fuse for a marine bomb adapted to be vreleased from an aircraft; comprising a casing having a booster charge arranged therein, percussion detonating means in normally spaced relation from said booster charge within said casing and moveable to a predetermined position in operative firing relation with respect to the booster charge, a tiring pin arranged Within the casing in axial alignment with said detonating means and engageable by said detonating means upon movement thereof into said position, means including a plurality of balls engaging said detonatingmean's for releasably locking the detonating means in saidV normally spaced relation With Y respect to the booster charge, resilient means abutting said detonating means for forcibly moving the detonating means into engagement with said tiring pin when said locking means is released thereby to lire the booster charge, moveable means in engagement With said locking means and slideably arranged within the casing and including. an element responsive to the pressure Vof the surrounding water for progressively storing energy in said resilient means as the bomb descends through the water, said moveable means being disengaged when said element responds to said predetermined amount of pressure and releasing said locking means when thebomb reaches a predetermined depth of submergence, means including a plurality of balls in engagement with said moveable means for releasably locking said moveable means in au initial position, means including an impeller for releasing said last-named locking means when the impeller has made a predetermined number-.of revolutions during the travel of the bomb through the air, and means including at least one eounterweight operatively connected to said moveable means for rendering said moveable means ineffective to release said first-named locking means in response to the impact of the bomb with the surface of the water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,665 Huber Sept. 2, 1919 1,368,569 Minkler Feb. l5, 1921 1,639,665 Pratt Aug` 23, 1927. 1,699,336 Remondy Ian. 15, 1929 1,788,856 Bossone Jan. 13, 1931 1,943,706 VaraudV Jan. l6, 1934 2,443,041 Jordan June 8, 1948 

